Letters to Editor: Let's hear it for volunteers

The teacher  stood before us and said: "I need a couple of volunteers."

There were about 25 of us in the room and while we knew what a volunteer was it was clear no one really wanted to put their knowledge to the test.

Just sideways glances and shuffling feet, until someone asked: "What do you need volunteers for, sir?"

This is always stage one in the response programme for most kids.

They want to know what needs to be done before weighing up in their minds two things ... whether they want to do it and whether there might be anything in it for them at the end.

Which usually leads to the second question: "Do we get anything for it, sir?"

The teacher looked around and smiled and simply said: "I need two volunteers."

I kind of figured that as we were doing a project about a thing called the Colombo Plan, which was slightly bewildering, I might as well have a shot at this diversion, so I put my hand up.

"Good show - we need one more," he said, before adding "but you'll need to have a bicycle."

About a dozen hands then shot up, because this meant you were to receive approval to leave the school's perimeter. In the middle of the school day you were to be given the green light to leave the grounds and go somewhere ... on a mission.

So he picked some other kid and we went up to his desk, where he opened a drawer and handed us both an envelope.

He explained there was a $2 note in each.

I was to go to a stationery shop in town and buy a pen - the best pen I could find for that sum.

The other kid had to go to a gift shop and buy a nice glass or mug.

They were to be prizes in a quiz he had jacked up to take place at lunchtime ... because at the last moment he realised he needed six prizes but only had four.

The other kid and I looked at each other and sort of shrugged and said "okay" and off we went to the bike sheds, then into town.

At 10.15 in the morning while the rest of the class toiled with trying to grasp some foreign policy stuff.

It was like anarchy!

We were both back by 11 and both achieved our goals and the teacher was happy with what we'd tracked and purchased.

So were we ... we had a little bit of change left over and could only manage a "sorry" when he asked if we'd kept the dockets.

It pays to volunteer!

Which is simply a throwaway line because it's not about seeking reward, although we were "officially" rewarded by being allowed to go home an hour early that day.

The teacher never had a shortage of volunteers after that.

But it actually felt good to do something for someone, as it did when I spent a morning at the local kindergarten about 17 or 18 years ago doing up garden areas and planting shrubs and trees.

What were once trees the size of a shoebox are now 5-6m high and have created a bushy little jungle for the tinies.

I like to see that ... that's the real reward.

But I am small fry in Volunteerland. I have come across dozens, scores of people who devote enormous passion and time to doing something for the community for no other reason than wanting to help. Nothing would work ... nothing would happen without volunteers. They patrol the seas and the land. They save lives and they put out fires and they provide first aid. They plant things and they clean up beaches.

They are everywhere and they seek nothing but the satisfaction of knowing they've simply helped out.

Salt of the earth ... they are the perfect, functioning alternative to politics.

Which leads me to people going the extra mile. We had an addition to the clan recently - a tiny grand-daughter. Doll size, except the eyes are searching and the fingers are constantly stretching and clutching. It was a tough run for mum, but she had Annie. Annie is a midwife, and one of those people who disregard the hands of the clock and simply go and attend to things when they need attending. Nothing is too much trouble and everything is important. Even when all was going pretty good she called by "just to make sure." What a saint.